Rubber Products - Recycled

Rubber is a core constituent of a large number of consumer and industrial products. Rubber is known for its strength and flexibility, with the bulk of rubber used in the manufacture of vehicle tyres. Today, however, used tyres and waste rubber has become a major solid waste management issue both in Australia and worldwide. In the United States alone, 250 million scrap tyres are discarded annually. Considering too that virgin rubber is sourced from rubber-tree plantations that displace native forests in Asia, carcinogens and hazardous solvents are used in rubber processing and production, and energy use and air emissions during production and disposal, recycled rubber products are clearly more environmentally preferable.

Fortunately there are many sound markets for scrap tyres, markets which are both environmentally and economically sound. Innovation in rubber processing and recycling has seen waste rubber used in civil engineering applications, agricultural supplies, building and construction materials, flooring and surfacing, marine and automotive supplies, furniture, sporting goods and recreational items. These products, in utilizing used rubber destined for the waste stream, have lower environmental loads compared to virgin materials whilst exhibiting strength and performance characteristics equal too and if not better than traditional rubber-based products.

Consider the following tips when considering the purchase, use and disposal of rubber-based products:

Consumer Behaviour Tips

• Purchase rubber-based products made of at least 50% recycled rubber - the higher the recycled content the better;
• Remove stickers, labels and tags from waste rubber and rubber products before disposal;
• Check where your nearest rubber recycler is - or ask the product manufacturer if they will accept the product back for recycling at end-of-life;
• Select products that have not been treated, cleaned or processed using hazardous toxins or solvents;
• Avoid products that contain carcinogenic (cancer-causing) substances;
• Don't be mislead - recycled rubber products are not inferior to virgin rubber products for performance;
• Do not burn waste rubber - this releases toxic smoke into the atmosphere and can introduce toxic runoff into waterways;
• Consider recycled rubber outdoor flooring and retaining walls. Recycled rubber flooring is an ideal substrate in playgrounds, running tracks, stables and other high-traffic areas. Recycled rubber retaining walls are strong, water and heat resistant and cost less than traditional materials. Importantly, these can all be recycled at end of life.